Memory

First broadcast May 2005

From birth through to death our brains will file away huge amounts of information - facts, names, faces, sounds, smells and events and the emotions that are inevitably tied to them.

But what is memory? How does it work? In this four part series, Pam Rutherford will explore the science of memory, its extraordinary capabilities, how and why it can go wrong.

Part 3: Memories in distress

What happens to memories in illness? And when they intrude when they're not wanted?

This programme looks at the power of intrusive memory and the role of memories in mental illness.

From the vivid, debilitating flashbacks experienced by people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to the reasons why memories plays an important role in depression.

How do our emotions govern our memories and how do memories govern our emotions?

Can traumatic memories ever be tamed or forgotten and what do the memory changes in mental illness reveal about how our memories work?

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